Valley People (March 3, 2024)

AN ILL-ADVISED ROUTE 

A week ago Friday Haley Holt, a recent AVA reader from Pennsylvania, posted the follow request for advice on our website (theava.com):

Holt: “I live in rural Pennsylvania but my heart is in Mendocino County. My husband and I go to Gualala twice a year. Hopefully, we will someday be permanent residents, but for now it is quite a travel adventure. The reason for my comment is that we are flying into Santa Rosa tomorrow (Saturday), renting a car, and then driving to our rental on the coast near St. Orres. I’ve read your paper daily since I discovered it on my last trip out there, and I love keeping up with the people, events, and wonderful stories. However, I’ve also been seeing your upcoming weather forecasts on-line, and I am very worried about the travel conditions on Saturday. I’m looking for advice on the safest route to get from Santa Rosa to Gualala Saturday evening, as I don’t know what to anticipate. Thank you so much in advance.”

Sheriff Kendall replied first: “If you’re headed to Gualala, Highway 1 at the Garcia River could — and I mean COULD — have flooding. There will be updates on the Caltrans website. If it is flooded you will need to take Fish Rock Road to Gualala. Fish Rock is a very crummy road, but if you take your time it should be fine. Also mendoready.org should have any current closures listed on it.”

Pete Boudoures disagreed: “I would recommend using Highway 1 via Jenner. You’ll be fine.”

Ms. Holt replied: “Thank you! Google maps is telling me to go on Skaggs Spring Road to Highway 1, but we’ve driven Fish Rock before and I think I’d rather travel the mountains than the ocean cliffs in the rain. We’ll go slowly if we need to go that way. I really appreciate your response and will check those sites. I can’t wait to be back there!”

On Monday Ms. Holt reported: “We made it to Gualala Saturday night on Fish Rock Road from Yorkville. It was not fun, and um, Sheriff Kendall, I’m sorry for calling your office last night while I was having a panic attack trying to drive that road. I have a new respect for people who chose to live and travel along that godforsaken road.”

Pete Boudoures: “I tried to tell you. 99.9% of people use Highway 1 and no, you wouldn’t be crossing the Garcia River [where it usually floods in heavy rain] since it’s north of your destination. You are lucky that a tree wasn’t down or you didn’t get stuck, because help wouldn’t be around.”

Haley Holt took Boudoures’ remarks to heart: “Thank you Peter! I know in the future who to listen to.”

Mark Scaramella adds: Fish Rock Road is a throwback to an earlier time in Mendocino County. It is mostly unpaved, unimproved and minimally maintained. It reminds me of the kind of roads our family used to take back to the Coast in the 50s to visit relatives. It’s good to experience Fish Rock Road (or its equivalents in the Covelo area) at least once just to know how difficult rural Mendo roads used to be. But it’s probably not a good idea to drive it in bad weather in a rental car you’re unfamiliar with (clearance-wise, for example). Highway 1 on the other hand is maintained by Caltrans and except for the occasional flooding where the Garcia drains into the Pacific (which is always posted on the various road condition website), it’s a decent route to Gualala because, as Boudoures notes, Gualala is south of the Garcia mouth. If one drives carefully (and preferably not at night) Highway 1 is a much easier drive, unless you get stuck behind a lumbering RV. In the early 20th Century Highway 1 was a much more daunting trip, especially driving south where in spots one can look out a passenger side window directly down the steep bluffs to the beach hundreds of feet below. Not for the acrophobic.

For a description of what driving Highway 1 was like a century ago, read about my father’s adventure driving a stud-dairy bull from UC Davis to Manchester in the 1920s here: theava.com/archives/182422

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Marshall Newman: No question, Fish Rock Road is an adventure. The pavement disappears for several miles and – as Mark Scaramella points out – it is a throwback to Mendocino County of an earlier era. A few years ago, I visited Milliard Redwood State Natural Reserve, located a couple of miles past Ornbaun Springs on Fish Rock Road. While a beautiful place of mostly second-growth redwoods, there was absolutely nothing there but a lone picnic table in a turnout. I later looked it up online and the only thing listed under “amenities” was “picnic table.” I just checked a couple of websites, and that picnic table remains the only amenity.

STOP & HELP

Good afternoon Mr. Bruce Anderson. 

In previous years I had written to you about my daughter Ahilmar regarding her proud victories on 5k runs around our hometown. Today it is with pain and unbearable information that I write you. 

I received a phone call from my mother (Antonia Marin) that my little brother (Aslin Perez) had been in a car accident today. I do not recall the time, unfortunately. 

The reason I write to you is as follows.

Years ago I was raised in a very family oriented and a valley of families whom would always help each other in any situation. As I learned of my little brother Aslin’s accident, it tore me apart to know he suffered injuries to his right knee as well as his ankle because he was driving according to the weather, but felt the need to veer off onto the oncoming lane to avoid hitting vehicles whom where stopped for a dog near Highway 128 between Philo and Navarro. As he avoided colliding with any other vehicle he lost control of his tan jeep, hitting a tree. He made the right choice to not hurt anyone as his car lost control in the rainy weather, as a result he totaled his vehicle. 

The sad part is all whom he avoided including in his wreck left the scene. Where are the people of the valley I grew up in who would help another? Where have the people with good hearts gone? Has this valley lost hope of humanity? I would like to know that the valley I grew up in is still one big family but as the years go by it proves itself that humanity is losing its value. I pray when someone is hurt, even if you are just passing by, Stop and help! You never know when you or a loved one is going to need help. If it is a flat tire, an engine problem, or a car wreck, stop and help be human.

Julio Joel Perez, Boonville

SPRING IS ALMOST HERE!

Hello AV Community! I am reaching out on behalf of our local Anderson Valley Parks & Recreation Department. We would LOVE to expand upon what Steve created for so many years and provide a public monthly/seasonal calendar for our Anderson Valley community (both print & online) highlighting events/activities & services available for all ages and we would like to include the services that you may provide.

If you currently are or are planning to soon offer any events/activities/services, please send me an email with any details you are ready to share and let’s see if we can include your services in our first print!

(*If you know of an event/activity that someone else offers, send me their contact info and I’ll reach out to get details).

This first edition would be SPRING (March, April, May).

Helpful information would be:

(Elizabeth Jensen)

BILL KIMBERLIN:

This is a parking lot in San Francisco near the U.C. Med. Center on Pill Hill. I went to my doctor for my annual check-up. This lot is really close to his office. 

When I went to leave the lot, this driverless car pulled in the exit and blocked my car. Two young women then entered the back seat of the robot car and closed the doors. I waited for it to leave. And waited, and waited. It didn't move, so finally I got out of my car and looked in the driver's seat of this robot car. No one driving. I banged on the passenger rear window. No response. I knew they were in there because I had seen them enter. Cars started backing up behind the robot, no one could get in or out. 

It may look like there is room to exit but if you look at the second photo from behind the robot, you will see that there is a car right beside mine and my passenger door is open. Everyone is blocked and the robot is not moving. 

I considered that perhaps the passengers were explaining to the robot where they wanted to go, but that is not how these cars work. That is done when you order the ride on your cell phone using their app.

I considered just using my car to push it out of the way and backward onto the street but it was too late for that, as cars were piling up behind it. From this I concluded that this was not a smart car.

When it finally woke up, it tried to both back-up and make a left turn at the same time. This left me just enough room to exit the lot and I don't know what happened after that. But having seen a few road rage incidents I know that some drivers would have taken a sledge hammer to it.

JILL DIRWINSKI: Kitten season is about to begin! Please donate to Felines of Philo if you can. Jenifer Bird trapped, spayed, neutered and released 107 feral cats last year. It's not free and she depends on your donations. You can send a check to P.O. Box 610 Philo, Ca 95466 or use PayPal.

THE AV HIGH SCHOOL AG DEPARTMENT has fresh eggs for sale. Contact Ms. Swehla to get a dozen or two: bswehla@avpanthers.org.

ATTENTION GREENWOOD ROADIES: is anyone on Greenwood Road still waiting for AT&T to restore their landline? ( I know all the hullabaloo about their seeking a CPUC redesignation, but are we out of a landline permanently already?) They are impossible to reach, and really don’t give me much specific information. (Margaret Pickins)

WHALE MOLESTATION SET FOR FIRST WEEK IN MARCH

It's a Whale of a Good Time!

Each and every March, coastal Mendocino County celebrates the migration of gray whales. Fun for locals and visitors alike, you’ll find wine walks, foot races, beer tastings, interactive science demonstrations, even a Bloody Mary competition – all to celebrate the most majestic of marine mammals. Check out the numerous events and activities for the whole family and enjoy a whale of good time! Spend a few nights and find lodging at VisitMendocino.com.

Back by popular demand, the Mendocino Whale Fest is where you want to be the first weekend in March. Check out the Wine Walk through the village – whether by foot or by MCT Trolley! Stroll the Mendocino Headlands and make sure you stop by the Gray Whale Migration Station – otherwise known as Ford House Museum.

A PHILO READER WRITES: You are absolutely right about the raw, wild and beautiful northern California unexploited spaces and places! I can see just a bit of it and its possibilities as you drive Highway 253, if you bother to look out over the dry expanse. It does the same thing to me as it does to you. I drove and camped on the Branscomb Road in 1955 at age 17. A friend had been given a car for her high school graduation and we had both been camp counselors at Camp Seabow in Laytonville (up in the hills along the South Fork of the Eel River). The river was huge and clear. Two young girls alone, all the way over to the Coast and we could not have been safer. Or so we thought. Keep thinking about that greenery and openness.

MIKE REYNOLDS: What I remember about third grade. Mrs. Doggett put us in groups of four desks. Judy Rawles was being teased by someone. (I don’t want to say who.) So she threw this big eraser at him. Meanwhile, Tony Jackson was watching the whole thing. The eraser went through the next group of desks. Tony ducked and it hit Mrs. Doggett right in the head. I still remember the look on her face. She was pissed.

CAROL BRODSKY: Went to Lake Mendocino last week and discovered about 18 mature trees near the playground - all completely uprooted, all facing the exact same direction. It was an amazing sight which no longer exists - the Parlin Fork crew was out yesterday cutting and burning which, given the number of trees and the potential safety hazards was probably for the best. I’ve never seen anything like it. Some had pretty sad root systems but not all. The ground was sodden, so maybe the lake rose all the way up to that area and a massive wind gust during our recent storms took them down. Glad no one was injured. Birds were chirping madly and flittering about all the downed trees.